Washington’s National Park Fund will use a new $75,000 grant from The Boeing Company Charitable Trust to help Mount Rainier National Park become carbon neutral and cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half. "The Boeing grant is great news for Mount Rainier National Park and for everyone who enjoys it,” said Eleanor Kittelson, Executive Director of Washington’s National Park Fund.

The grant will pay for projects like analyzing the park’s vehicles and motorized equipment to find ways to reduce emissions and operating costs. The money will also be used to continue a visitor shuttle that cuts down weekend traffic in the park during the summer. The goal of these and other projects is to help Mount Rainier National Park become carbon neutral and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2016.

The Mount Rainier grant supports The Boeing Company Charitable Trust’s goal of funding projects that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, inspire environmental citizenship and protect and restore critical natural habitat. "At Boeing, we are serious about lowering our environmental footprint,” said Neelima Shah, the company’s community investor for environmental issues in the Northwest. "Just as we have set targets for improving our operations' eco-efficiency, we think the Mount Rainier project has set a very worthwhile goal.”

"Boeing has shown a real commitment to environmental leadership through this grant,” said Kittelson, who accepted a check from Shah during a ceremony in the park on November 16.  See media coverage:

National Geographic Traveler

National Parks Traveler

The News Tribune

NPS Digest: Gateway for Partners, Friends and Alumni

Boeing's Neelima Shah presents the Fund's Eleanor Kittelson with grant award.